HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 06-14-21 Special MeetingMINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING
JUNE 14,2021
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special City Council Meeting on June 14, 2021, a]
3:05 p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey,
California, Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members:
Claudia M. Frometa Mayor
Blanca Pacheco Mayor Pro Tern
Catherine Alvarez Council Member
Sean Ashton Council Member
Mario Trujillo Council Member (arrived at 3:26 p.m.)
ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager
John Oskoui, Assistant City Manager
Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Dean Milligan, Chief of Police
Dan Hurlock, Fire Chief
Aldo E. Schindler, Deputy City Manager/Community Development
Anil Gandhy, Finance Director
Delfino Consunji, Public Works Director
Jason Chacon, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
James McQueen, Human Resources Director
Vaniah De Rojas, Assistant to the City Manager
Alicia Duarte, CIVIC, City Clerk
1) CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF THE
CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 BUDGET AND THE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT; AND,
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Mayor Frometa opened the Public Hearing at 3:06 p.m. City Clerk Duarte affirmed receipt of the
Proof of Publication. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco, seconded by Council Member Ashton,
and carried 4-0, with Council Member Trujillo absent to receive and file.
City Manager Livas commented regarding the presentation Director Gandhy provided during
the Budget Study Session on June 9, 2021. He asked if the City Council preferred to have Director
Gandhy provide a brief overview of the proposed City's Budget and presentation or if the City Council
prefers to ask specific questions regarding the Budget. He stated the City's budget is balanced at
$228.9 million.
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting — June 14, 2021
there is no need for another presentation. She asked her Council colleagues if they had specific
questions regarding the Budget.
TOP I I I 1 1 i� I I I I I I I
n!layor Frometa, at 3:09 p.m., opened this item for public comment. Mayor Frometa asked Ci
Clerk Duarte if there were any written comments received regarding the Public Hearing item. City Cle
Duarte confirmed no written Public Comments were received. Mayor Frometa asked City Clerk Dua
if there was anyone on the teleconference line who would like to comment regarding the Public Head
item. I
Wayne Spindler, non-resident, commented regarding items that were not related to the Public
Hearing item.
Armando Herman, resident, commented regarding legal expenses, ADA compliant sidewalk
street improvements, speeding, and adding new vehicles to the Police Department budget. I
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco, seconded by Council Member Ashton, and so
ordered by the Mayor to close the public hearing at 3:13 p.m.
It was moved by Council Member Ashton, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco and carried 4-
0, with Council Member Trujillo absent to adopt Resolution No. 21-8020, a Resolution of the City
Council of the City of Downey adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget and the Annual
Appropriations Limit.
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n1layor Pacheco opened the Public Hearing at 3:14 p.m. City Clerk Duarte affirmed receipt of the
Proof of Publication. It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco, seconded by Council Member Ashton,
2nd carried 4-0, with Council Member Trujillo absent to receive and file.
City Manager Livas clarified the property and sales taxes are general taxes but the user fees
2re special taxes which do not benefit the general public but the individual. He provided a brief
z�xplanation regarding the difference between general taxes and user fees.
Assistant to City Manager De Rojas presented the staff report. She provided a brief history
regarding the City Council's approval in 2019 of the automated annual adjustment to the City User
Fee's Schedule based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles -Orange -Riverside
Metropolitan Statistical area. She stated the adjustments are only for fees that do not currently achieve
full cost recovery. She added the fees are increased by 2.2% and rounded either up or down depending
if they are greater or lesser than 50 cents, respectively. She provided the few exceptions where the
increases reflect the market value that is considered entertainment fees. The first is the Rio Hondo Golf
Course; and, the second is the Downey Theatre. The City proposed five additional fees related to cost
recovery for services currently being provided by City staff not previously included in the Uniform
Schedule of Fees. She mentioned there are a few fees that have to be lowered to align with 100% cost
recovery and meet State Regulations.
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Special Meeting — June 14, 2021 2
'City Manager De Rojas confirmed the adjustments are color -coded to identify the changes and
Legend has been included in Exhibit A of tonight's staff report.
Council Member Ashton thanked Assistant to the City Manager De Rojas for the presentation.
He asked staff if the City's intention is to increase fees or to recover costs. Ms. De Rojas replied the
adjustments are only to reach 100% cost recovery as determined in 2016 by Matrix Consulting Group,
a third party consultant hired to research the rates to recover staff time spent conducting the services.
She added a majority of the fees are currently not at the 100% cost recovery rate.
Mayor Frometa, at 3:23 p.m., opened this item for public comment. Mayor Frometa asked City
Clerk Duarte if there were any written comments received regarding the Public Hearing item. City Clerk
Duarte confirmed no written Public Comments were received. Mayor Frometa asked City Clerk Duarte
if there was anyone on the teleconference line who would like to comment regarding the Public Hearing
item.
Wayne Spindler, non-resident, commented in opposition of the increases to the Unifor'"
Schedule of
Having no one else, Mayor Frometa closed public comment.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco, seconded by Council Member Alvarez, and so
ordered by the Mayor to close the public hearing at 3:25 p.m.
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It was moved by Mayor Pro Tern Pacheco, seconded by Council Member Ashton, and carried 5-
0 to adopt Resolution No. 21-8021, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Downey adjusting the
City's Uniform Schedule of Fees.
City Manager Livas thanked the City Council for their leadership and guidance through the
budget process. He commented regarding COVID-19 closures and the negative effects on the City's
Budget. He acknowledged staff for their high level of services, and said he is looking forward to a
robust 2022 and the exciting projects planned for the upcoming year.
Mayor Frometa thanked City Manager Livas and staff for their diligence and hard work with the
challenges presented by COVID-19 during this past year. She stated the City needs to stay focused on
being fiscally responsible and conservative with the unforeseen uncertainties during the economy's
reopening.
Mayor Frometa adjourned the Special City Council meeting at 3:29.m.
"'—AAR ALIC�IADU�R� C� CLAU50k M. FROMETA
City Clerk Mayor
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Special Meeting - June 14, 2021 3